Letter to Leanna Kennedy, Local Representative to the White House

10/29/2009

Dear Ms. Leana Kennedy,

I’ve been in contact with Mrs. Orr. It’s been brought to her attention that my mother is in dire need of serious help. Her situation requires the appropriate attention and exposure and we are hoping you could assist us through this difficult time.

Correspondence have been sent and emailed many times to the White House with no luck in getting this information directly to President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. We have only received standard form responses that are sent out to millions of Americans. We’re hoping you could please help facilitate this transaction on behalf of my mothers request for she has fallen through the cracks of the system.

We have been in contact with the necessary political offices on this matter as well. We are also currently trying to get exposure through news media both local and national but it has been very difficult. This matter has to be addressed on a much higher level as you can understand. Our request is to have direct contact with the President on what he can do to help. This cause is for a solution to help this senior citizen from loosing her home to foreclosure.

Time is running out. On December 1^st, 2009 the existing loan is scheduled to re-cast to a higher interest rate and higher payment of which she cannot afford, which will cause her to go into default.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter! 

Sincerely,

Betty & Shawn

Dear Mr. President: Series of emails and faxes to the White House and their response.

This is a series of emails and faxes to the White House and their response. There has been other emails and letters but to this point the reply below is the only thing we have received back.

*************************************

FAX 1

Subject: “A Daughter’s Plea for Help of a Needed Mortgage Crisis Intervention. Time is Running Out”

Date:              November 9, 2009
To:                  President Obama
Fax Number: 202-456-2461
Comments:
Urgent:

Dear Mr. President,

This is a legitimate story of what is currently taking place. It needs immediate exposure and as a daughter I am in dire need of help to prevent this from happening.  As a daughter I have submitted 2 correspondences on 6/2/2009 & 6/24/2009 via certified mail (June 3, 2009 Letter to President Obama) to the Whitehouse without a response.

We are pushing this matter locally and nationally through political offices as well as the news media, talk shows and social media networks. I need your help because time is running out.
Please contact me as soon as possible,
Shawn—–Original Message—–
From: The White House – Presidential Correspondence [mailto:noreply-WHPC@whitehouse.gov]
To: Joseph Cina
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:06 AM

Subject: Thank you for your message

Dear Friend:

    Thank you for writing.  I have heard from many families unable to refinance mortgages or obtain loan modifications.  I appreciate hearing your perspective as I work to help more Americans stay in their homes.

      Today, access to the American Dream is being tested by a mortgage crisis that threatens the stability of families, neighborhoods, and our entire economy.  Even if your own home is not at risk of foreclosure, you are still affected.  Even if you have played by the rules and fulfilled all of your obligations, a foreclosure in your neighborhood will have an impact on the value of your home.  This crisis has not only hurt home values nationwide, it has also had a dramatic effect on the credit Americans need to purchase cars, pay college tuition, and grow small businesses.

      My Administration has acted quickly to address this crisis and implemented a housing plan, which can be viewed at: www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov.  It helps millions of responsible families avoid foreclosure by allowing homeowners with mortgages from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to refinance at lower rates to make sure their homes remain affordable.  This plan helps us end the crisis without rescuing speculators, dishonest lenders, and those who bought homes they knew they could not afford.  For assistance with a home foreclosure or to find a local housing counseling agency, I encourage you to call the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-569-4287 or visit: 

www.hud.gov/foreclosure.  If you have a government loan and need assistance working with a lender, you may also call 1-888- 995-HOPE to speak with a housing specialist.

The road ahead is difficult, but if we move forward resolutely– with a deepened appreciation for how fundamental the American Dream is and how fragile it can be when we fail in our collective responsibilities–then I am confident we will overcome this crisis and once again secure that dream for ourselves and future generations.  Thank you again for writing. 

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

To be a part of our agenda for change, join us at www.WhiteHouse.gov

****After receiving The White House’s response we sent another letter****

Dear President Obama,

I am writing back in response to the email sent by your staff at 10:06 am on 10-21-2009. It was appreciated that someone on your staff took the time to reply. This matter is in need of your appropriate attention and exposure and should be brought to your immediate attention directly to you. This matter should be taken seriously of a daughter’s plea for help of a much needed mortgage crisis intervention here in Pasadena, California; time is running out. She is an 86 year old senior citizen caught up in the mortgage meltdown and possibly loosing her home to foreclosure.

This senior was a member of the Armed Forces and has fallen between the cracks of the system as  many others have. No one seems to want to help this senior in saving her home from foreclosure and restore her retired life and well being. We have exhausted all avenues of help including talking with Chase Bank for a loan modification, traditional and your program, refinancing, etc. Chase Bank doesn’t have the interest in helping seniors’ stay in their homes. As a responsible citizen she continues to be current on her payments and maintains an excellent credit rating but when December 1^st, 2009 arrives the loan will re-cast to a higher payment and interest rate of what she cannot afford. She will then be forced into default.

How unfair is this that a person of this age has had to work this hard to get help and door after door continues to close with no resolution in helping her?

We have been talking to the Military Records Center only to find the records center cannot locate and identify any record of her serving in the armed forces. The family was told that all records were destroyed in a fire that took place in 1972 destroying all the records from the year 1959 and prior. The only way now to identify her is to give the VA her C number and if we cannot provide this they cannot help any further. So another door is closed. Where does she get the help now that is needed? Pursuing this avenue was to see if she would qualify for VA benefits…Another door closed! Why is the Government so interested in helping other countries and their issues when they should be focused on the issues of seniors today in our own country?

This home is all she has left and her and her daughter will do what it takes to be heard on this critical matter that affects many others as well. The necessary local Government officials have been contacted such as Governor Schwarzenegger’s Office, Congressman Schiff, State Senator Carol Liu, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. We are also currently working with local and national media including radio, various newspaper reporters, and live media of various news channels, and moving forward to have this story heard on Good Morning America to expose the truth of what has happened to one woman fighting hard to keep her home.

Americans of this generation should not be forgotten and home ownership is not just an investment; it’s the fabric of our lives, of our nation. This family of two needs your personal attention on this matter. We were disappointed to receive the standard form letter of response that came from the White House. We would appreciate a direct response via phone & a formal letter of response by you.

Sir, as you can understand your support on this matter is much appreciated.

Shawn